Edition 13 | Term Three, Week 8, 2024

Part of the Senior School was transformed into an ‘Egyptian Arena’ by the Year 7 cohort this week. The Four Great Pharaohs had their subjects bowing to the Gods for prosperity and good fortune.

The students dressed for the occasion in ancient Egyptian clothing and presented their artefacts to the ‘Pharaohs’ before displaying them in the ‘Museum of Antiquities’. The standard of models was very high this year and every student put a lot of creative thought into these and their costume designs.

The Ancient Egyptian games, clay amulets stamped with hieroglyphs and viewing the documentary on how they used the cubit unit of measure were enjoyed by all. The chocolate pyramids made by Chef Martin were also a hit.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents for their support in both the models and costumes, the students looked amazing. I loved seeing and hearing about each and every one of their Ancient Egyptian creations!

A big ‘thank you’ to all staff who provided that ‘extra touch’ to ensure the day was a huge success. A special thank you to Gianni Restaino (Class of 2023) who presented a very informative session on his cultural heritage. As a staff it is so lovely to see past students wanting to come back and give back to the school in such a generous way.

A huge thank you once again to the families who supported our annual Scholastic Book Fair in Week 6. It proved to be a hugely popular Book Week event, with total sales reaching $20,523 over the five days.

Thanks to these stellar sales, we earned $3,000 worth of Scholastic books and products for our library. Additionally, we are putting together a fabulous gift box of toys and books for Mudgeeraba Special School and have made a $2,000 cash donation to our favourite charity, Room to Read. Our $2,000 donation will be truly life-changing for the children Room to Read supports, as literacy empowers all people to be safer, healthier, and more self-sufficient.

All orders placed at the Book Fair were delivered to classrooms on Tuesday afternoon to some very happy and grateful little friends.

We warmly invite you to explore and engage with the innovative creations of our students during the twilight viewing of Synergies – Creative Minds Exhibition.

The exhibition will feature entries from students in Years 5 through 12, from our Design, Engineering, Digital, Film, Media and Visual Art programmes.

Light refreshments provided.

Please note this event is free with RSVP.

Wordsmiths members have recently penned sparks into poetry and let our creativity run wild. This year, our annual Wordsmiths retreat looked a little different at the Gold Coast Recreational Centre – as all our storytellers, singers and poets were treated to workshops from our Year 12 Leaders, Dr Brohier, Mr Walther, and Ms Lee, ranging from crafting comic-strips to exploring surrealism through poetry.

The Wordsmiths club showcased their incredible talents at the performance night at the end of the retreat. Some highlights included songs from our talented singer-songwriters Ayla Chirathivat-Geralds and Bella Beer, surrealist stories from Sam Davies and the finale of a five-year series of colour-based poetry from Emmeline Anthony.

The following Tuesday saw Wordsmiths come together to participate in the national Write A Book in a Day challenge for The Kids’ Cancer Project. Fuelled by lollies and laughter, all members worked to write and illustrate ten books for children with cancer across Australia. The initiative raised $2800, and we are grateful for the support of our Somerset community who could make this happen.

A huge thank you to Dr Brohier for his steadfast leadership in making these opportunities available for the Wordsmiths Club!

Every Second Counts: Tips on maximising time in the Mathematics external assessment.

The QCE Mathematics external examinations can seem like a daunting prospect, but they don’t need to be if you’re well prepared.

In 2024, Tadej Pogacar won the Tour de France by a margin of 6 minutes 17 seconds. In cycling terms, this was considered an easy victory, but when you consider that the entire three-week race took 83 hours and 39 minutes, that winning margin represents 0.1% of the total race time.

In his book titled "Every Second Counts," Lance Armstrong discusses his journey to his first Tour de France win in 1999 and continues up until his fifth win in 2003 (Armstrong, 2003). While Armstrong's story is marred by controversy, the principle of every second counts, can be applied to sitting an external examination.

Like the Tour de France, many our Year 12 students will be sitting their QCE examinations over a three-week period. In the lead up to the assessment day, being prepared is essential, however during the examination, understanding how to make every second count is critical.

Tips Leading up to Examination Day

1. Make a resource book of notes

Imagine that you are going to prepare a book of notes that you can take into the examination. Of course you are not allowed to take notes into the exam, however, the process of creating a book of individual notes that are useful to you, is an excellent way consolidate knowledge and understanding. It is also an excellent way to highlight concepts you need to focus on.

2. Complete past exams

Start with the QCE past papers and, if you can, work with friends to check and comment on each other’s answers. Closer to the exam day, try completing exams under timed conditions. If you want to see how students have performed across the state on the multiple-choice questions, you can read the Examination Report section of the Subject Reports from 2022 and 2023.

https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/senior-subjects/mathematics

3. Don’t try and cram at the last minute.

Draw up a revision schedule that makes best use of the exam lead-up period and remember that it is better to get more sleep than stay up late studying.

Tips for Examination Day

The reality of sitting the external assessment for mathematics, is that students will only have approximately 20 minutes of deep-thinking time during the exam. With this in mind, how they approach the exam is based on an understanding which underscores the importance of strategic planning and time management.

1. Use perusal time effectively

During perusal time, students are not allowed to write on the test paper or the response book, or use a calculator, however in exams with multiple-choice questions, you can use the perusal time to ‘mentally’, answer questions.

2. Don’t spend too long on the multiple choice

Aim to complete each multiple-choice question in around 1 minute. For Mathematical Methods and Specialist Mathematics, this means finishing the 10 multiple-choice questions in around 10 minutes. Train for this by completing past papers under timed conditions.

3. Answer questions you know first

You don’t have to start the exam at Question 1. It can be helpful to start with an ‘easy’ question first - of course the idea of “easy” is relative, however, beginning with questions you are most confident with, will calm your nerves. Prioritise questions you are confident about to secure those marks first.

4. Never leave a multiple-choice question blank

In the QCAA external assessment, you have a 25% chance of guessing the correct answer. If time is running out, remember that you can guess a multiple-choice question, but not a short response one.

5. Know your calculator shortcuts

Familiarise yourself with your calculator’s functions and shortcuts. This can save valuable time during the exam.

6. Understand how exams are marked

Markers will typically mark from top to bottom, left to right, so ensure your work is clear, logical and well-organised. Some questions award a mark for logical setting out. In addition, remember to show all your working out for questions worth more than one mark.

7. Know which formulas are not on the formula sheet

Ensure you have memorised any key formulas that are not provided on the formula sheet. For example, the quadratic formula would be useful to know for the Specialist and Methods examinations.

8. Read each question carefully

Highlight key words and instructions. Misreading a question can lead to mistakes, costing you valuable marks.

9. Re-read questions

After solving a problem, re-read the question to ensure your answer is complete and addresses all parts of the question.

10. Reasonableness

If asked to check the reasonableness for a question you are unable to solve, assume an answer and comment on the reasonableness of your assumption. Remember to use mathematical reasoning.

11. Stay calm when disaster strikes

Exam-induced anxiety and stress can lead to a mind blank, making logical cognitive activity difficult to undertake (Aukland, 2023). When an exam is interpreted as a threat, a stress response is triggered, clearing our working memory and disrupting recall mechanisms. Emotionally charged cognition, guided by the hypothalamus and other subcortical areas, can overpower the typically rational thinking governed by the prefrontal cortex. (Pelegrina, Justicia-Galiano, Martín-Puga and Linares, 2020). If you go blank, realise you’ve answered a question incorrectly, or discover you’ve misread a question, do not panic. Pause and remember to breath. Focusing on the things you can control, might help you to feel more calm and relaxed Writing down things you know about the topic can potentially trigger your memory.

12. Think you've finished… use all available time.

If you finish early, check, check and check again. When checking answers, cover up your original response and do the question again. This will help to avoid making the same errors.

Just as in the Tour de France, where every second can determine the winner, every minute of your exam time is precious. Success in the external assessment can be determined by the most strategic and those who manage their time well. Careful planning can make all the difference. Approach your exam with the mindset of an elite athlete; be prepared, stay focused, and use every second wisely. With these strategies, you can cross the finish line confidently and successfully. Remember, every second counts.

References:

Aukland, L. (2023) Understanding the stress response in exams – what happens in your brain? https://www.oxfordaqa.com/news/understanding-the-stress-response-in-exams-what-happens-in-your-brain/

OxfordAQA.

Pelegrina S, Justicia-Galiano MJ, Martín-Puga ME and Linares R (2020) Math Anxiety and Working Memory Updating: Difficulties in Retrieving Numerical Information From Working Memory. Front. Psychol. 11:669. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00669

Armstrong, L. (2003). Every Second Counts. Broadway Books.

Texas Instruments. (2022). Graphing Calculator Guide.

Cycling Weekly. (2021). Tour de France History. Retrieved from Cycling Weekly Website.

Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority. (2022). Mathematics Examination Guidelines. QCAA Publications.

Over the last two science lab rotations, our Year 6 Somerset Scientists explored all things electricity.

The chemistry of battery construction was explored through lemons and electrodes. This experiment left no room for a sour taste.

Photovoltaic physics allowed for the understanding of the pros and perils of solar power. An enlightening investigation to be sure.

Constructing an array of electrical circuits, students analysed voltage, current and light output through a range of measurement technologies. Circuitry conundrums were rendered commonplace.

Some promising future electrical engineers in our Year 6 Somerset Scientists.

Here is hoping they hold the answers to Earth's future energy dilemmas.

Three Somerset College Volleyball teams recently participated in the Senior Schools Cup tournament, showcasing their talent and determination. The tournament, held on the Gold Coast, had 326 teams from 157 schools from all over the state competing. 

Year 12 Girls

The Year 12 Girls’ team displayed exceptional teamwork and skill, securing the bronze medal. Their consistent performance throughout the tournament earned them a well-deserved spot on the podium. Their improvement over the past year has been exceptional as some of the Year 10 and 11 students playing in this team will return next year for another try at gold.

Year 11 Boys

The Year 11 Boys’ team competed fiercely in the top division (Honours Division) topping their pool on day one and beating the team from volleyball powerhouse, Craigslea Volleyball Academy, 3-nil. The Boys fought hard on day two with results putting them in medal contention. Despite a valiant effort, they narrowly missed out on the bronze medal, losing a thrilling fifth-set match with a score of 17 to 15.

Year 11 Girls

The Year 11 team at Somerset College, displayed commendable performance in the Senior Schools Cup Volleyball tournament. While they narrowly missed out on a medal, their dedication and teamwork were evident throughout the competition.

Overall, Somerset College demonstrated sportsmanship, resilience, and dedication, making their mark in the Senior Schools Cup Volleyball tournament. Congratulations to all the players. A massive thank you to Dane Robinson and the sports department for making this happen and to Issy Garland and Anais Ereaut for doing an amazing job preparing the teams in the lead up to the event as well as their expert coaching over the course of the weekend.

Football Preps are shining in the United Cup and Mini Premier Invitational.

After weeks of playing in-house matches on the Somerset grounds. Our preps were invited to participate in the United Cup and Mini Premier Invitational. 

This Football Club Season, our Somerset Spartans Football Club have played their in-house Football games, every Saturday morning for the Preps. From Year 1, our Football Club has been entering teams in the FQ South Coast Miniroos Leagues. To allow our Preps to play official matches, our Prep Footballers played their first competitive football matches last month. The students were very excited to face the first-time footballers they didn’t know yet.

The first tournament took place at Coplicks Family Sports Park. The Students and Parents were required to meet Coach Maarten and Coach Lucy. After a morning briefing regarding rules for playing and behaviour, we prepared to warm up. The Spartans played matches against GC United, Robina Football Club and Southport Football Club. Somerset entered the Tournament with two teams. For the last match of the day, our Spartans played the match against each other.

Our second tournament took place at Magic United TFA. This day, we got enough students to form two teams. We welcomed a few new players that were not able to attend the United Cup. And for some students, it was their second tournament of the month! We played against Nerang Football Club, Magic United TFA, GC Knights and Musgrave Football Club. Over the whole day, our teams had wins and losses. But most important, everybody had lots of fun! The teams were coached by Coach Maarten and Coach Tim.

We would like to thank Gold Coast United for organising the United Cup and the Magic Group for organizing the Mini Premier Invitational.

Thank you to all the parents we came down and helped during the day!

For any questions about Football and Futsal at Somerset College. Please contact our Head of Football and Futsal; Maarten de Kruijf mdekruijf@somerset.qld.edu.au

Junior School Swimming National Championships

The Junior School Swimming National Championships were held on the Gold Coast from 24 to 26 July. There were six swimmers from the Somerset Swim Club who competed at the Championships against the best swimmers from around Australia. For our Junior School swimmers, this is the pinnacle of sport and the highest level of competition.

The swimmers from Somerset Swim Club who represented Queensland were Makyra Melo, Braxtyn Truman, Sophia Tarrant, Meggie DeChhimba, and Knox Anderson, while Jack Sewell represented New South Wales. Our swimmers were amazing in the pool all securing Top 10 results, a remarkable achievement!

Congratulations to:

• Makyra Melo - 12yo Girls 1st place 50m Breaststroke, 2nd place 200m Mixed Medley Relay, and 3rd place 200m Girls Medley Relay.
• Jack Sewell - 11yo Boys 3rd place 100m Back, 1st place Medley Relay, 5th place 200m IM, 5th place 50m Backstroke, and 5th place 200m Freestyle Relay.
• Braxtyn Truman -12yo Boys 6th place 200m Free, 5th place 100m Butterfly, 4th place All Age Freestyle Relay.
• Sophia Tarrant – 12yo Girls 8th place 50m Breaststroke.
• Meggie De Chhimba – 11yo Girls 9th place 100m Breaststroke.
• Knox Anderson – 11yo Boys 9th place All Age Freestyle Relay.

Well done to our swimmers on these very impressive results. A special thank you to coach Cheryl who prepared and supported our athletes for this meet.

Somerset recently hosted Sheldon College for the sixth instalment of our annual bout. 

The team at Somerset & Sheldon have nurtured a great relationship over the past six years, giving students the opportunity to compete in a high-level pressure environment, sparking some fantastic tennis.

Twelve Somerset & Sheldon students battled it out over a total of 30 matches which added up to 50 sets & 281 games. Spread across the ages of nine to 16, the quality every year reaches a new level.

Yellow Ball Team

• Inca Burdett & Ling Rostas
• Sabastian Mainali & Ethan Stewart

Green Ball Team

• Audrey Hilbert & Deanna Marino
• Hudson Harley & Boaz Jun

Orange Ball Team

• Bambi Whitcombe & Amelia Shum
• Hugh Adams & Jack Dew

After five hours of tennis in what has been an early start to our summer season, Somerset clinched the win 17 to 13 in matches. Notable matches go out to the Yellow Ball Girls (Inca Burdett & Ling Rostas) and the Orange Ball boys (Hugh Adams & Jack Dew) for displaying what was dubbed by coaches and parents as the most impressive and competitive tennis on the day.

Thank you to parents and players for making it a fantastic day, and to Jake Alchin and the team at Sheldon College. Next year, we travel to Sheldon College to continue our bout!